Nigeria

Nigeria is part of West Africa and it is one-and-a-half times the size of France. The size of its population is enormous: about 150 million people. That means that one in six Africans is Nigerian. But the ethnic variety (250 ethnic groups) makes that there is no definition of a Nigerian. Many Nigerians are fervently religious, be it Muslim (50%, mainly in the North), Christian (40%, mainly in the South) or indigenous beliefs (about 10%). The living conditions in Nigeria are very poor and the health care is inadequate. Some 1-2% of the population are extraordinary rich. But 7% of all Nigerian children don't live until the age of one, 18% don't see their fifth birthday, and those that do survive childhood can only expect to live until the age of 51. Although education is mandatory for all, finding school fees and places in schools and universities is difficult for the average Nigerian family. In the Niger Delta frequent oil spills and rampant deforestation worsens the living conditions even further.

About the project

Nine women from the Niger Delta in Nigeria are involved in a participatory research and video project (June-September 2010) analysing the lives and experiences of women in the Niger Delta: FEMSCRIPT. Because so far women are hardly visible in stories about (conflict in) the Niger Delta. Yet, women’s lives are impacted by the ongoing conflicts in many ways. That's why the participants (women aged between 25-35) will learn to analyse how women’s human rights are affected by these conflicts. The research is a starting-point for participants to transform these results into a script for documentaries. During the training period of two months they will be given the opportunity to film the script and make documentaries about issues they are dealing with. It might even offer them possibilities to participate more powerfully in efforts to stabilise and develop the region.During the FEMSCRIPT project, the nine women from three different States in the Niger Delta (Bayelsa State, Delta State and Rivers State) will be equiped with a comprehensive set of skills and tools to make their voices heard all over the world: they will be familiarised with human rights concepts, acquire basic research skills, and learn how to make video documentaries. MIND invited Stichting FLL to collaborate as video trainers. MIND (Media, Information, and Narrative Development) is a Nigerian non-profit, non-governmental organisation. Its mission is to stimulate young people in Nigeria – especially women – to re-envision their lives and the world they inhabit through imaginary use of media, information, and narrative development.

Making of

The results will be available soon. Watch here the process behind the scenes...